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So what would happen if there were [no mosquitoes]? Would anyone or anything miss them? Nature put this question to scientists who explore aspects of mosquito biology and ecology, and unearthed some surprising answers.
There are 3,500 named species of mosquito, of which only a couple of hundred bite or bother humans. They live on almost every continent and habitat, and serve important functions in numerous ecosystems. "Mosquitoes have been on Earth for more than 100 million years," says Murphy, "and they have co-evolved with so many species along the way." Wiping out a species of mosquito could leave a predator without prey, or a plant without a pollinator. And exploring a world without mosquitoes is more than an exercise in imagination: intense efforts are under way to develop methods that might rid the world of the most pernicious, disease-carrying species (see 'War against the winged').
Yet in many cases, scientists acknowledge that the ecological scar left by a missing mosquito would heal quickly as the niche was filled by other organisms. Life would continue as before — or even better. When it comes to the major disease vectors, "it's difficult to see what the downside would be to removal, except for collateral damage", says insect ecologist Steven Juliano, of Illinois State University in Normal. A world without mosquitoes would be "more secure for us", says medical entomologist Carlos Brisola Marcondes from the Federal University of Santa Catarina in Brazil. "The elimination of Anopheles would be very significant for mankind."
A world without mosquitoes. What a dream!
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Gravis on Wednesday February 17 2016, @11:04PM
right because human overpopulation never caused any problems. (눈‸눈)
(Score: 4, Informative) by julian on Wednesday February 17 2016, @11:15PM
That's a really naive interpretation of population growth. It's possible we would have just reached our current total sooner. Population is likely going to level off around 9-12 billion. The biggest variable is if we can get all of the world to adopt Western attitudes towards women and birth control. Once women are allowed to control their own reproductive rate, and can choose careers instead of families, population growth drops below replacement levels.
(Score: 2, Flamebait) by frojack on Wednesday February 17 2016, @11:33PM
Never mind Gravis, he likes to sulk in his Misanthropy. Its the only solace he has in his dismal world.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 18 2016, @10:33AM
Once women are allowed to control their own reproductive rate, and can choose careers instead of families, population growth drops below replacement levels.
But this may be a temporary situation due to "environmental factors". There are others that are still breeding in such an environment. So in the long run if the environment remains similar and conducive to the breeders these breeders will be selected for.
Evolution will select against the non-breeders or those that don't breed enough. In the long run there will be fewer people that do what they do. That's how it works.
(Score: 1) by Gault.Drakkor on Friday February 19 2016, @12:22AM
"adopt Western attitudes towards women and birth control".
I disagree. Mostly in terms of decreasing birthrates is getting to be a global trend and global cultural diversity ensures there are many attitudes. Also: USA attitudes towards birth control are counter productive: minimal health care coverage of birth control pills, abortion( at least before Obamacare, no idea of current status).
Primary drivers of lowered birth rates are educated women, low infant mortality rates.
Women that are educated know more options, are able to exert more control over there lives and families, regardless of weather or not they are "allowed to control". Most women with some education prefer to spend there limited resources on smaller number of children. When women know their children will not die as infants they plan/choose to have fewer children with the expectation their children will live to adulthood.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Wednesday February 17 2016, @11:43PM
Don't worry, the World Health Organization will be sure to wipe out Zika and other convenient diseases. ( ͡~ ͜ʖ ͡°)
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Wednesday February 17 2016, @11:57PM
Is that an emoticon or Korean for 'eye, eye'?
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 18 2016, @03:16AM
(눈‸눈)
This people is why we did not need unicode.